 | The Wedding Planner Amber Schulman - Tuesday, February 06, 2001
Director: Adam Schankman
Producer: Peter Abrams
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Judy Greer
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Date of Release: January 26, 2001
Reviewed By: Amber Schulman
Our Rating: * *1/2
Runtime: 1hr and 40 minutes
" Those who can't do, teach, those who can't wed, plan!" These are the words of Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez), San Francisco wedding planner who does it all from coaxing brides with last minute jitters to finding missing in action F.O.B.'s (Father of Bride), and expertly commanding her troops to produce picture perfect weddings. Yet, she, herself, hasn't had a date in two years! All of that changes when fate, in the form of a dumpster, introduces Steve Edison (Matthew McConaughey), a pediatrician, who saves her shoe. Unbeknownst to a smitten Mary, Steve is engaged to the daughter of an Internet company mogul, Fran Donolly (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras), who has just hired Mary to plan her wedding. Other colorful characters include Mary's childhood friend from Sicily who is hoplessly in love with her, Mary's father who tries to meddle with her dating life, and Penny (Judy Greer), Mary's assistant planner who is her comedic sidekick and is, at one point, a hilarious scene-stealer contender with Lopez.
Bay Area natives will recognize famous locales and backdrops but will wonder on which night Golden Gate Park hosts a carnival with an outside theater showing classic movies? The answer is NEVER! The scene is a mere Hollywood creation. At best, this movie offers a great cast and a light, funny, predictable plot that tries to imitate the style of the golden era of great movie classics. I was relieved that I was just with "the girls" during a couple scenes, but other than that, The Wedding Planner is a safe bet. | |